INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE MATERIEL COOPERATION

The availability of sufficient and up-to-date military equipment is an essential part of Finland's defence capability. International defence materiel cooperation is one of the means to achieve this end as well as guarantee military security of supply.

International defence materiel cooperation may cover the whole life cycle of defence materiel, ranging from research and technology to the eventual discharge of materiel. The aim is to gain technological and economical benefits by avoiding duplication of efforts and achieving economies of larger scale.

Finland participates in international defence materiel cooperation in a variety of ways, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Bilateral cooperation is primarily based on a network of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the Finnish Ministry of Defence and their foreign counterparts. Bilateral cooperation extends to the fields of research, development, production, maintenance, quality assurance and procurement. One of the main objectives is to create preconditions for military security of supply under emergency situations.

Finland is involved in multilateral cooperation in various different forums: